Pneumatic tire.



H. B. GILL'I'TE.

PNEUMATIG TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED 11211.10, 1913.

1,121,917. Patented 1360.22, 1914.

THE NoRRls PETERS C0.. FHOTD-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, DA c HERBERT B.GILLETTE, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

PNEUMATIC TIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

Continuation in part of application Serial No. 724,499, led October 8,1912. This application led April 10, 1913. Serial No. 760,141.

T0 all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT B. GILLETTE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Tires, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic tires.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide an improvedpneumatic tire which is very durable and is not likely to be injured bypunctures or blow-outs. Second, to provide an improved tire elementadapted as a protector for pneumatic tires, which does not materiallyaffect the resiliency or elasticity of the tire, and which at the sametime, effectively protects the inner or pneumatic tube. Third, toprovide an improved tire element having these advantages, which may beapplied to either new or used pneumatic tire casings, and one whichpermits the use of lighter casings than are now commonly required.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification, in which:

Figure I is aside elevation of a tire embodying the features of myinvention. Fig. II is an enlarged cross section taken on a linecorresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. I. Fig. III is an enlarged detaillongitudinal section on a line corresponding to the broken line 3-3 ofFig. II. Fig. IV is an outside view of one of the protector members 3.Fig. V is a detail view of one of the members 3 with parts broken awayto show the arrangement of the armor member 6 therein. Fig. VI is across section through one of the members 3, on a line corresponding toline 6-6 of Fig. IV.

In the drawing, similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, and the sectional views are Referring tothe drawing, the outer casing 1 is shown in conventional form and forconvenience, is illustrated as being formed of rubber. Any suitablecasing may beused. The inner or pneumatic tube 2 is of the usual form.

My improved protector element comprises a plurality of protector members3 which are formed of rubber or other suitable resilient material,preferably comparatively soft rubber. These members are in practiceabout two inches long, but the length may be varied considerably. Whenarranged within the casing, the arms of the members extend tosubstantially the top of the casing, as shown in Fig. II.

The protector members 3 are interiorly beveled at 5 at one end andprovided with joint tongues or laps l at the other, the joint tongues orlaps being wedge-shaped or tapered to fit into the bevels of theadjacent members. These lapped joints are substantially the same asthose of the structure shown in my application for Letters Patent filedOctober 8, 1912, Serial Number 724,499, my present invention being anadaptation and in some respects, an improvement upon the structure thereillustrated.

The members 3 have notches 8 in their bases or outer sides engaging thering 9. The ring 9 is preferably secured within the tread of the outercasing 1, it being in effect, when so secured, an annular rib therein.The members 3 are arranged on this ring with their notches engaging thesame end to end, and with their joint members 4.- lapping or fittinginto their bevels 5.

The ring 9 is preferably flat and dove- 'tailed in cross section, asshown, and is formed of resilient material, preferably rubber. The ring9 is in practice, cemented to the outer casing, the ends of the ringbeing brought together and jointed by dowels 10. The notches 8 of themembers 3 are preferably dove-tailed to more effectively engage thering. A

Thin spring metal armor members 6 are embedded within the protectormembers, the armor members being disposed centrally across the base ofthe protector members with their edges spaced from but adjacent to theends of the protector members, and their ends terminating in the sideportions or arms of the protector members; that is, they extend wellacross the tread of the tire and up to the sides thereof, preferablyterminating at the sides, as shown in Fig. Il.

rl`he protector members and their armor members are formed substantiallyflat or straight, as shown in F ig. IV, so that when arranged on thering 9, their tendency to straighten grips the ring and they pressoutwardly against the walls of the casing when arranged therein.

The armor members `are preferably indented to provide yprojections 7 ontheir under surfaces. rlhese indentations and projections perform adouble function, one being that the rubber molded thereon securelyengages the same, and the other, that the projections on their undersurfaces tend to defiect a nail or the like which might pierce thecasing and one of the protector members.

T he protector members are placed within the casing under compression sothat they are held in contact by their own resiliency. Ifhey may beplaced upon the supporting or articulating ring 9, either before orafter placing within the casing. While prefer to secure the rib orarticulating ring 9 by cementing it to the casing as the structure ismore satisfactory in operation, .the protector element is of advantagefor use when the ring is unsecured to the casing. With the parts thussecured within the casing, they cannot shift about therein and they forma continuous protector for the inner "tube 2. 1When the inner tube isexpanded, the protector members form a continuous support therefor.

ln the event of the vouter casing being punctured, as by a nail or thelike, the point of the .nail engaging one of the protector members, themember will ordinarily yield before being punctured. Should .it puncturethe member and engage the armor member thereof, it is stopped ordeflected. Should the nail 4engage between the armor members, the nailis ordinarily deflected by the yielding of the members and the jointlaps or tongues before it reaches the inner tube and is embedded in oneor the other of `the joint members. ln the event of cuts or likeopenings in the outer casing, the pro- 'rector members eniectirelybridge the opening and prevent tne inner tube blowing out therethrough.The outer casing is also protected by the protector members as it isknown that in the event of the outer casing being punctured, the breakformed bv the puncture on the outer side of the casingis the startingpoint for Wear between the inner tube and casing, and the casing isfrequently weakened by this wear so that blow-outs occur. rllheprotector element so effectively relieves strain on the outer casingthat thinner outer casings may be used if desired, which is of greatadvantage as 4the `cost of outer casing depends quite largely on thenumber of plies therein. A further advantage of my structure is that itsupports the outer casing to a considerable degree so that it is notlikely to be injured when deflated.

Generic claims to certain features of my invention are found in mycompanion application filed December 6, 1913, Serial No. 805,177.

Having` thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a tire, the combi-nationwith an out-er casing and a pneumatictube, of a protector' element interposed between the casing and tubecomprising a ring secured within the tread portion of the casing, saidring being flat and dove-tailed in cross section, and members `ofresilient material having dovetailed notches in their bases engagingsaid ring, the ends of the protector members when disposed within thetire extending substantially to the top, said protector members havingembedded spring metal armor members disposed centrally .across theirbases with edges spaced from but adjacent to their edges and endsterminating in each side portion adjacent to the longi tudinal centerthereof, said protector members and their armor members being formedsubstantially straight, whereby they tend to press outwardly whenarranged within the casing and Vto grip said ring.

2. ln a tire, the combination with an outer casing and a pneumatic tube,of a protector element interposed between the casing and tube comprisinga ring secured within the tread portion of the casing, said ring beingflat and dove-tailed in cross section, and members of resilient materialhaving dove` tailed notches in their bases engaging said ring, saidmembers being arranged on said ring with their ends abutting and beinginteriorly beveled at one end and provided with corresponding taperedjoint tongues at the other end fitting the bevels of adjacent members7the ends of the protector members when disposed within the tireextending substantially vto the top, said protector members havingembedded spring metal armor members disposed centrally across theirbases with edges spaced from but adjacent to their edges and endsterminating in each side portion adjacent to the longitudinal centerthereof, said protector members and their armor members being formedsubstantially straight, whereby they tend to press outwardly whenarranged within the casing and to grip said ring.

3. In a tire, the combination with an outer casing and a pneumatic tube,of a protector element interposed between the casing and tube comprisinga ring secured within the tread portion of the casing, and normally iatmembers of resilient material having notches in their bases engagingsaid ring, said members being arranged on said ring with their endsabutting, the ends of the protector members when disposed within thetire extending substantially to the top, said protector members havingembedded spring metal armor members disposed centrally across theirbases with ends terminating in each side portion adjacent to thelongitudinal center thereof.

fl. In a tire, the combination with an outer casing and a pneumatictube, of a protector element interposed between the casing and tubecomprising a ring secured within the tread portion of the casing, andnormally flat members of resilient material having notches in theirbases engaging said ring, said members being arranged on said ring withtheir ends abutting and being interiorly beveled at one end and providedwith corresponding tapered joint tongues at the other end fitting thebevels of adjacent members, the ends of the protector members whendisposed within the tire extending subu stantially to the top, saidprotector members having embedded spring metal armor members disposedcentrally across their bases with ends terminating in each side portionadjacent to the longitudinal center thereof.

5. In a tire, the combination with an outer casing and a pneumatic tube,of a protector element interposed between the casing and tube comprisinga ring secured within the tread portion of the casing, and members ofresilient material having centrally disposed notches in their outersides engaging said ring, said members being arranged on said ring withtheir ends abutting and being interiorly beveled at one end and providedwith corresponding tapered joint tongues at the other end fitting thebevels of adjacent members, said protector members having embeddedspring metal armor members disposed centrally across the tread portionsthereof, said protector members and armor members being formedsubstantially straight, whereby they tend to press outwardly whenarranged within the casing and to grip said ring.

6. ln a tire, the combination with an outer casing and a pneumatic tube,of a protector element interposed between the casing and tube comprisinga ring secured within the tread portion of the casing, and members ofresilient material having centrally disposed notches in their outersides engaging said ring, said members being arranged on said ring withtheir ends abutting and being interiorly beveled at one end and providedwith corresponding tapered joint tongues at the other end fitting thebevels of adjacent members, said protector members having embeddedspring metal armor members disposed centrally across the tread portionsthereof, said protector and armor members being under tension in saidcasing whereby they tend to press outwardly within the casing.

7. An element for pneumatic tires comprising a ring, and members ofresilient material having notches in their bases engaging said ring,said members being arranged on said ring with their ends abutting andbeing interiorly beveled at one end and provided with correspondingtapered joint tongues at the other end fitting the bevels of adjacentmembers, said protector members having embedded spring metal armormembers disposed centrally across their bases with the edges spaced frombut adjacent to their edges and ends terminating in each side portionadjacent to the longitudinal center thereof, said protector members andtheir armor members being formed substantially straight, whereby theytend to grip said ring.

8. An element for pneumatic tires comprising a ring, and normally flatmembers of resilient material having notches in their bases engagingsaid ring, said members being arranged on said ring with their endsabutting, said protector members having embedded spring metal armormembers disposed centrally across said notches in their bases with theedges spaced from but adjacent to their edges and ends terminating ineach side portion adjacent to the longitudinal center thereof.

9. An element for pneumatic tires comprising a ring, and a plurality ofmembers of resilient material having notches in their bases engagingsaid ring, said members being arranged on said ring with their endsabutting and being interiorly beveled at one end and havingcorresponding oint tongues at the other fitting the bevels of adjacentmembers, said members having embedded spring metal armor membersextending across the tread portions thereof, said protector members andarmor members being formed substantially straight, whereby they tend topress outwardly when arranged within a casing and to grip said ring.

10. In a tire the combinatie-n with an outer casing of a pneumatic tube,a protector element interposed within the casing and tube comprising aring, and a plurality of members of rubber having notches in their basesengaging said ring, and embedded spring members disposed centrallyacross the notches and extending into their side portions said springmembers being placed under stress when the members are supported in acurved position by the casing, all coacting for the purpose specified.

1l. In a tire the combination of an outer casing and a pneumatic tube ofa protector element interposed between the casing and tube comprising ering` secured to the tread portion of the casing, and members of rubberhaving notches in their bases engaging said ring and joint laps on:their ends, and having spring members disposed across their notches,said spring members being placed 10 under stress when the members aresupportmener? ed in a curved position by the casing, all coacting forthe purpose specified.

In Witness whereof, l have hereunto setJ my hand and seal in `thepresence of two Witnesses.

HERBERT B. GILLETTE. [11. s@

Witnesses:

R4 B. GILLETTE, WILLrAivr R. BMNCKERHOFF.

Gomes of this patent may be obtained for :live ycents each, byaddressing* the Commissioner of Pateus,

Washington, D.

